WSPP303 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

"'\ '- ,,",, ~ OOu'tO~ extent possible, with Colorado's existing .framework of laws, property rights, and development expectations, thereby avoiding future conflicts between environmental protection and water and land management. 4. THE NEED FOR PARTNERSHIPS These challenges suggest the need for a proactive effort to assure protection of water-dependent native species ancLhabitats at a level that avoids the need to list and protect Colorado's native aquatic species under the rigid regulatory requirements of the ESA. Protection of these biological resources would not 'only preserve a critical component of Colorado's high quality natural environment, but may broaden options for productive human economic activity for current and future generations of Coloradans. In particular, by avoiding the listing of additional species as threatened or endangered under the ESA, we can retain important flexibility for Colorado decision-making regarding the overall uses of our water resources. DNR and DPHE seek to encourage a public discussion regarding the advisability of a collaborative effort centered on working partnerships between water users, landowners, and local. state and federal agencies. These partnerships would develop and implement targeted efforts to conserve and protect native aquatic species and. habitats in Colorado without having to resort to punitive regulation. The two Departments believe that such partnerships, whose potential activities are described below in the next section, may provide the best opportunity for the citizens. of Colorado to restore their namraI heritage and control their own destiny. Further, the Departments believe that fostering such partnerships seems particularly timely and important in view of the high growth rates that Colorado currently is experiencing, and the further challenges that continued growth will present in efforts to preserve our economic future, our qUality of life, and our rich natural heritage. The establishment of such cooperative partnerships could produce substantial benefits for all who participate, and for all Colorado's citizens, but will also require a focussed commitment of resources to enhance communication and coordination among the various levels of government and with other public and private interests. Although the approach suggested in this concept paper would require considerable adjustment in the way governmental agencies and private interests in Colorado have traditionally done business with one another, it appears to hold great promise for increasing the level of participation by all affected interests in decision-maldng, for producing better results in the'face of tighter public budgets, and for retaining greater control at the local and regional levels over the protection, conservation, and development of Colorado's natural resources. It is important to emphasize that DNR and DPHE do not anticipate that these partnerships, if pursued, would require new legislative authority or to result in the creation of new regulatory requirements or programs. Rather, DNR and DPHE would seek to approach solutions to these issues with landowners and water users on a voluntary basis, and to foster a spirit of private and public sector investment in solutions that are financially and economically feasible. In addition, DNR and DPHE pledge to ensure that state agency resource management efforts are fully coordinated to achieve protection of Colorado native species and thereby minimize the disruption caused by potentially conflicting activities of state agencies. 3